Now don't worry, Ruth. I will do everything you ask; as everyone in town knows, you are a fine woman.

May the children that the LORD will give you by this young woman make your family like the family of Perez, the son of Judah and Tamar."

Because of what had happened to Sarah, Abraham's wife, the LORD had made it impossible for any woman in Abimelech's palace to have children. So Abraham prayed for Abimelech, and God healed him. He also healed his wife and his slave women, so that they could have children.

(SEE 20:17)

The LORD blessed Sarah, as he had promised,

Abraham named him Isaac,

Because Rebecca had no children, Isaac prayed to the LORD for her. The LORD answered his prayer, and Rebecca became pregnant.

When the LORD saw that Leah was loved less than Rachel, he made it possible for her to have children, but Rachel remained childless.

Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, "I can't take the place of God. He is the one who keeps you from having children."

Then God remembered Rachel; he answered her prayer and made it possible for her to have children.

She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She said, "God has taken away my disgrace by giving me a son.

When Esau looked around and saw the women and the children, he asked, "Who are these people with you?" "These, sir, are the children whom God has been good enough to give me," Jacob answered.

I asked him for this child, and he gave me what I asked for.

The people who once were well fed now hire themselves out to get food, but the hungry are hungry no more. The childless wife has borne seven children, but the mother of many is left with none.

He honors the childless wife in her home; he makes her happy by giving her children. Praise the LORD!

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a real blessing.